Oakley rolls out two more stadium shops

Oakley Inc. is beefing up its relationship with Major League Baseball.

The Foothill Ranch maker of eyewear, apparel and accessories announced Friday it signed a licensing agreement with the league for apparel and accessories. Recently, Oakley was named the official eyewear brand for the Angels.

Oakley has opened two small shops at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y., said CEO Colin Baden. One shop is 100 square feet in size, the other 75 square feet.

Those outposts are in addition to the company's first stadium store, which debuted in late March at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.

At least six more stadium stores are planned. The company will decide in the summer whether to go forward with those after evaluating the Angels and Yankees shops, said Raphael Peck, Oakley's chief merchandising officer.

Beyond manufacturing and selling team- and league-themed apparel and accessories for baseball fans, the company is looking to baseball players for R&D feedback on its sunglasses.

Oakley has a history of sponsoring and working with professional athletes – including snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler, beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh and golfer Rory McIlroy – to test optical technologies.

Oakley is working specifically on a baseball lens, Baden said. The goal is to help players see better under various light conditions.

One of the features the research team is looking to incorporate is selectively highlighting some colors – such as red stitching – to make it easier for the players to see the ball, said Ryan Taylor, director of optical technology.

"It's like a stereo equalizer," Taylor said. "You can adjust the volume of the bass. We're doing that for the eyes."

Outfielders are among the pros Oakley will be working with to test the technology, he added. But Taylor said he hopes batters will try the sunglasses once they're launched – the better to see the ball as it comes to the plate.